How to figure out when the time is right to switch majors

College is one of the most daunting experiences of our adult lives. It’s the time when we have to learn to rely on ourselves, figure out what our path in life will look like, make lasting friends, and learn new skills that can’t be overlooked. However, college is also a time for change and sometimes, that change can be your major of choice. Many students end up making the switch to a new college major, and it’s not uncommon at all.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, at least 30% of undergraduate students have switched their major at least once within the first 3 years of enrollment. At least 1 in 10 have switched more than once.

The wonderful thing about college is that your studies are not set in stone. Depending on what you think is right, you have the chance to switch. Still, how do you know when the time is right to switch your major? Well, we’ve created a guide for you to help figure out when the time is right to switch majors.

1. You’re miserable in your classes

Think about getting up in the morning every day and going to class. Are you miserable? Excited? Happy? Bored out of your mind? Chances are, if you’re miserable or you hate everything you’re learning about, then it’s probably right to switch majors.

A lot of the time, we try to overlook or ignore our feelings in exchange for the idea that money is the only important factor in an education. That’s not necessarily true, though. You can make money no matter what major you have and you can struggle to find a job no matter what major you have. It goes both ways.

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Think about what you feel in regards to your major. If you’re not happy at all, then maybe you should consider switching.

2. You’re lagging behind in your classes

If you find that your grades are dropping dramatically and your academic performance is struggling, then it may be best to take a step back and analyze what’s going on.

Dropping grades are a very strong sign that maybe you’re in the wrong program. We can’t overlook the aspect of mental health or external struggles, but sometimes, people’s grades drop and their performance in class drops because of a lack of passion for the subject matter.

If you have no desire or passion to learn about anything in your major or in your classes, then it’s probably time to take a step back and rethink what major you want.

3. You’re finding interest in a different field

If you keep trying to pick elective courses from another subject field and find yourself downright hating every class you’re taking in your major, then it’s probably the right time to switch. Chances are, you doing this will only lag your graduation time behind even more.

If you find a strong interest in another field and perform well in this field, then you should probably consider switching to this other field.

4. You hated your internship

An internship is one of the best ways to get hands-on experience in your field of study. This means that it can be your first real understanding of how your degree looks like in the workforce.

If you find that you hate your internship, then you probably need to re-evaluate what you’re studying. What you learn in college is not the same as what you do in the field. If the field doesn’t click with you, then the major is probably not the right choice.

5. You keep researching different majors

Let’s just say you’ve been going one too many times on your institution’s website and checking out all the other undergraduate programs. Any program aside from your own.

Then you’re probably ready to make a switch soon. If you’re interested in looking at other majors, then you’re probably not satisfied with your current major. It’s going to be a long haul if you keep researching new majors while staying in the same one.

6. You were pressured to pick your major

There are unfortunately many people out there who felt like they had to pick a certain major in order to please others. This is honestly a trap that you can’t escape.

This isn’t the easiest situation to get out of sometimes, but if you can get out of your current major and into one that you’re actually passionate about, it’s for the best.

7. You feel constantly overwhelmed

School is a long game. However, feeling constantly overwhelmed and overworked is probably not the best thing to feel while trying to obtain an education.

If you find that you’re unable to balance school and life anymore, then the major is just probably not right for you. Sometimes, admitting that something is not within our capabilities is better than trying to fight. It’s not failure or defeat; everyone was built to do something different in life.

8. Your desired career and major don’t match

Let’s just say that while you’re in college, you realize that you want to be an investment banker. It’s probably not the best idea to go into political science if your dream job is investment banking.

This is why identifying a career path that you want is important, as it can help you tailor your choice of major. Think about the jobs you really want and then figure out what majors lead to that career. If it’s not yours, then you should probably dive into a new major instead.

9. You feel like you’re wasting time and money

Imagine waking up in the morning and beating yourself up constantly about what you’re paying for your major. That’s probably not an ideal thing to feel in the mornings.

If your mind continues to think about how you’re wasting money in your studies, then you should probably consider finding a program that will satisfy your brain and make you feel like your return-on-investment is worthwhile.

10. You picked your major for the prospective income

This is one of the biggest mistakes many college students make. Look, we all want money and we all need money to live. However, going into a major because you solely like the way that median annual salary number looks is the worst mistake you could make.

Firstly, the median salary is not the same as an entry salary. Surprisingly enough, you’ll find that many entry salaries are low no matter what major you’ve picked. Additionally, not everyone was built to study everything. If your brain is creative and likes writing, then you’re not doing yourself a favor by going into aerospace engineering.

Take a step back, think, and analyze your decision-making process. Don’t just pick a major because you think you may get a nice income. You actually have to go through the 4-5 years of that major and its classes first.

Have you ever switched your major? Have a college story you want to submit to us? Let us know by filling out the contact form.

The DZSH Group Staff